Israel is preparing to block a Gaza-bound aid ship carrying Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and other participants, according to reports from multiple media outlets, including The Times, The Sun, and Welt. The flotilla, onboard the ship Madleen, departed from Catania, Italy, on June 1 and is expected to approach Israeli territorial waters in the coming days.
Israel’s Position on the Flotilla
Israeli authorities have stated that the flotilla will not be allowed to dock in Gaza. According to Welt, security officials are considering towing the ship to the port of Ashdod and deporting its passengers. A warning has been issued to the activists, declaring that any attempt to enter the maritime zone off Gaza will be treated as a violation of the naval blockade.
Details of the Voyage
The ship is carrying 12 passengers, including Greta Thunberg, actor Liam Cunningham, and Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan. According to The Times, the Madleen is transporting humanitarian supplies such as baby formula, medical products, menstrual items, prosthetics, crutches, and water purification kits.
During the journey, the vessel rescued four Sudanese migrants near the coast of Crete. The migrants were transferred to a vessel operated by the EU border agency Frontex.
Background and Previous Incidents
On May 2, another Gaza-bound ship, the Conscience, was damaged in international waters south of Malta. According to The Times, the ship was struck by drones. While the attackers have not been officially identified, the outlet reported that an Israeli C-130 military aircraft was observed in the area shortly before the incident.
Greta Thunberg has described the flotilla’s goal as delivering aid and protesting the situation in Gaza. Israeli officials have rejected her statements, and German Antisemitism Commissioner Felix Klein accused Thunberg of promoting views that are “Israel-critical and partly antisemitic,” according to Welt.
***Illustrative image. AI-generated for editorial purposes only
